Current Biochemical Engineering

For several decades, bioactives have been widely explored as complementary and alternative medicines for the treatment/ management of various ailments including inflammatory disorders, diabetes, wound healing application and maintaining the optimal body functions [1-5]. Despite the opportunity for therapeutic benefits, bioactives have several hiccups such as nonuniformity in dose, suboptimal bioavailability, high metabolism and larger biodistribution characteristics. There are several bioactives including polyphenols which have only 2-20% oral bioavailability and are majorly metabolized via methylation, glucuronidation and eliminated by liver, which results into poor bioavailability [6]. For example, curcumin and its metabolites entitled as curcumin glucuronide or curcumin sulphate show reduced biodistribution as compared to the parent curcumin [7]. Furthermore, the similar effects are also reported in resveratrol and quercetin [7-11]. Besides, the bioactive majorly suffers from restricted solubility, permeability, higher metabolization, dose unadjustment and poor bioavailability. To overcome such problems, currently Chemically Engineered Nanomedicines (CEN) have been developed to improve the absorption and performance of such bioactives [11]. CEN with size range from 1 to 1000 nm includes microspheres, lipidic nanocarriers, surface functionalized nanocarriers, nano/microemulsion and lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles [12]. These CEN have capability of delivering both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs in controlled release manner with high drug loading capacity and better stability for its suitability in systemic and topical drug delivery applications [13]. Other important characteristics of CEN have high surface area-to-volume ratio, better pharmacokinetic and biodistribution properties of the bioactive at the desired site of action [14]. To date, a variety of CENs have been reported for the efficient delivery of bioactives. New herbal drugs loaded CEN are reported to have remarkable advantages over conventional formulations of plant actives and extracts which include enhancement of solubility, bioavailability, multiple drug delivery, expansion of stability, sustained delivery, improved tissue macrophages distribution, protection from toxicity, enhancement of pharmacological activity and protection from physical and chemical degradation. The present thematic issue, therefore, is a compilation of review articles from recent research work done on bioactive loaded chemical engineered nanocarriers for health care applications. We would like to thank all the authors for their excellent contributions, the editors of “Current Biochemical Engineering” for this invitation to act as guest editors for this thematic issue and the valuable assistance by Editorial Manager, Syed Faizan Akhtar in the processing and finalization of this special theme issue.